PURPOSE: To decrease mechanical components in association with the contacting and separating motions of a separating pawl and driving of a control roller for generating the timing in copy sheet transportation.

CONSTITUTION: A control roller clutching mechanism and a separating pawl clutching mechanism are installed coaxially and coupled and uncoupled using the same solenoid 36 to accomplish decrease of the number of parts used. A separating pawl 18 is included in a cartridge and installed removably on/from the body, and a coupling arm 41 of a separating mechanism is mounted and removed separately from a cam 42 on the output side of the separating pawl clutching mechanism. Because the separating and contacting motions of the separating pawl 18 are synchronous with a control roller 17, the sheet separating timing of a sensitive body 4 becomes constant, which enhances the separating performance to a great extent.